I re

world.' Observe, too, how he continues: ceived a most useful hint from Dr. Bacon, then father of the University, when I was at college. I used frequently to visit him at his living, near Oxford; he would say to me, 'What are you doing? What are your studies?' 'I am reading so and so.'-'You are quite wrong. When I was young

I could turn any piece of Hebrew into Greek verse with ease. But when I came into this parish, and had to teach ignorant people, I was wholly at a loss; I had no furniture. They thought me a great man, but that was their ignorance; for I knew as little as they did of what was most important to them to know.'

"Think on these stirring words, my own friend. Indeed, indeed, ours is no idle calling. The watchman on his tower has no idle post; the shepherd no idle charge; and if we are to warn every one in our parish publicly, and from house to house, night and day, even with tears,' have we any time to waste, not merely upon high questions of worldly wisdom, but upon horses or music, or any of the mere elegant amusements of this poor, passing, unsatisfying world. I am sure I should not cry out if I were to see you take up a tragedy of Sophocles, or a volume of Shakespeare or Wordsworth. We all know that the bow cannot be always bent. I hardly know why I mention Sophocles or Wordsworth, except that, if I remember rightly, your relaxations in former times were usually of a charac

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ter at once intellectual and imaginative. however, the more astonished to see you engrossed with mere common-place and frivolous amusements, and to find that amusement is not your relaxation, but your occupation. I am half inclined to say no more, nay not even to send you what I have written, for I dread lest I should lose your friendship by my plain and somewhat rough counsels. Understand me, I have not watched you with the cold and calculating observance of a spy, but with the deep and affectionate anxiety of a faithful friend. Perhaps there is scarcely any one living so skilled in the knowledge of your character as I am, owing to the unreserved confidence you were once accustomed to place in me. I have been heartily disappointed - why should I not confess it? I expected to find you given up wholly to your glorious work. I find you trifling with the life, the eternal life of your flock. You have the life of souls in your hands. How will you be able to answer, when you are called to render up your account at the great day of account, I am pure from the blood of all men.' You cannot forget how this our deepest responsibility was once urged upon us by our kind, good tutor. My dear familiar friend, with whom I have lived in such true and happy fellowship, will surely bear more from me than from most other persons. I am sure I would bear with any advice-nay receive it with hearty gratitude from you. If you and I fear to speak faithfully, and so

you

fail to do so, one to another, who shall fulfil the sacred duty of friendship to either of us. Bear with me patiently, indulgently, for I have still something more to say. I bring this charge against you, that, not merely as a pastor, but as a gentleman, you are trifling. I well remember a remark of the celebrated Doctor Barrow's, in a sermon of his on Industry in our particular calling as gentlemen.' He says, that a true gentleman is constantly asking himself, What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits? what shall I render to Him, not only as a man, for all the gifts of nature; as a Christian, for all the blessings of grace; but as a gentleman, also, for the many advantages of this my condition? A gentleman hath more talents committed to him, and consequently more employment required of him: if a rustic labourer, or a mechanic artizan, hath one talent, a gentleman hath ten. The truest pattern of gentility,' he beautifully observes, was even our Lord himself; and gentlemen would do well to make Him the pattern of their life.'

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However, as I said before, my dear Nigel, you are not only a gentleman, but a pastor of Christ's flock, of God's church, which He, Jehovah himself, hath purchased with his own blood, the blood of the second person in the Eternal Godhead. This consideration is indeed awful; it is no less awful than real; but its awfulness must stand side by side with its reality.

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"Once more, my own friend, let me press upon the delightful privilege of our calling, not in but in far wiser, better words :* Others my own, are glad of the leisure of the Lord's day, and now and then of an hour besides, when they can lay hold upon it. But we may keep a continual Sabbath. We may do almost nothing else but study and talk of God and glory, and engage in acts of prayer and praise; and drink in his sacred saving truths. Our employment is all high and spiritual. Whether we be alone, or in company, our business is for another world. Oh! that our hearts were but more tuned to this work! What a blessed joyful life should we thus live!

999

Nigel did not reply immediately to this letter. It displeased him, and he would not confess to himself that it did so; he delayed writing, and before he wrote, he received the news that the living of Dronfells, the reversion of which fell to him, had become vacant.-For a while he forgot Felix and his letter.

* Baxter's Reformed Pastor.

CHAPTER IV.

"All that a minister doth is a kind of preaching, and if you live a careless life, you preach that sin to your people by your practice. If you trifle away your time, they take it as if you said to them, Neighbours, this is the life you should all live; on this course you may venture without any danger."

BAXTER'S REFORMED PASTOR.

NIGEL arrived at Dronfells. The night had closed in before he had passed through the mountain defile leading to the village.

As he entered his new parish, he leaned forward, and strained his eyes to catch some notion of the place of his future abode; and then threw himself back, as wondering at the interest he had unconsciously taken in a dull, distant village in the north of England.

He was a little curious, and a little careless about the place. The carriage stopped, and a deep-toned bell was rung violently. Nigel started up, and looked somewhat eagerly through the win